As with many other areas around the world, social distancing and masks have become the new normal in Sierra Leone.  

Adama tells us in her video how she is able to attend the Vocational School thanks to the financial support she received. We also have the opportunity to learn how training is different right now due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are so thankful that vocational trainees are getting the training that they need. This empowering training is helping them become self-reliant. 

Thanks in part to your generosity we provided support towards purchasing the following items - sewing materials, two drinking buckets, a cooling fan, a blackboard (for writing notes/instruction), and window curtains.  Funds also went towards some urgent needs - the painting of the classroom and maintenance of the restroom. 

Your generous support is empowering small businesswomen, like Olivette, in Sierra Leone with interest-free microfinance loans. Olivette tells us in her own words how much the support she’s received has meant to her and her family and how it changed her story.

In the video she says-

Your ongoing support has helped multiple vocational trainees at the Baptist Vocational Training Center. On Friday, June 7, 2019, Sylvester Renner, President of Develop Africa, visited the Baptist Vocational Training Center. 

Sylvester was warmly received by the trainees. When speaking to the trainees, he encouraged them to do their best to develop their skills as this was a path toward self-sufficiency.  A short video from Sylvester’s visit can be seen here.   

Thank you for your ongoing support that has helped multiple vocational trainees at the Baptist Women’s Vocational Training Center. Trainees at the Center are working hard to create a better future for themselves and their families. Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is one of the three main priorities outlined by UNESCO and has been identified as the focus for the most important annual report on education, the Global Monitoring Report, in 2012.

Thank you for your support that purchased new art supplies for Sahr.  He is a very talented artist in Sierra Leone, even though he has not received any formal Art training.   The art supplies he received will result in higher quality drawings and paintings, which will help Sahr grow his art business.  Sahr is very thankful to GlobalGiving for the support.

We are truly grateful for your ongoing support that most recently helped support teachers at the Vocational Tailoring Institute.  The teachers had not received a salary in several months and were very thankful for your generous support.   One of the teachers expressed her gratitude in this video saying-

On behalf of the Baptist Tailoring Institute, I want to say a big thank you to Develop Africa for your wonderful support towards our salaries

Many families in Sierra Leone were displaced due to the flooding and mudslide disaster that took place on August 14, 2017.  Your on-going support continues to bring hope to flood victims in Freetown.   Your support helped Salamatu with a microfinance loan so that she could restart her business that had been destroyed by the Flood.

Salamata expresses her gratitude for the loan in this video saying-